HB 603: RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS MARKETING.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS MARKETING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $           or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the office of Hawaiian affairs to convene a working group to engage with relevant stakeholders about program design, implementation, and long-term viability of a Native Hawaiian marketing program to promote and support the success of businesses owned by Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of Hawaiian affairs for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 2.  The office of Hawaiian affairs shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027 on the status of the Native Hawaiian marketing program.  The report shall include:

     (1)  Information about the program design, implementation, and long-term viability of the Native Hawaiian marketing program;

     (2)  Any other relevant data; and

     (3)  Any proposed legislation.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 3000.

Report Title:

OHA; Native Hawaiian Marketing Program; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to convene a working group regarding program design, implementation, and long-term viability of a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program to promote and support the success of businesses owned by Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance.  Effective 7/1/3000.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

relating to NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS MARKETING.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  Chapter 10, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

     "§10-     Native Hawaiian marketing program; marketing label.  (a)  The office shall administer and oversee a Native Hawaiian marketing program to promote businesses owned by indigenous Native Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance.

     (b)  The office shall establish qualifications for participation in the Native Hawaiian marketing program.

     (c)  The office shall design and publish a marketing label that may be used by native Hawaiian businesses who qualify to participate in the native Hawaiian marketing program pursuant to subsection (b).

     (d)  The office shall provide marketing assistance and technical support for native Hawaiian businesses participating in the native Hawaiian marketing program to help the businesses grow and scale, including through the establishment of a directory on the office's official website of all participating native Hawaiian businesses.

     (e)  No person shall keep, offer, display or expose for sale, or solicit for the sale of, any item, service, product, souvenir, or other merchandise that:

     (1)  Is labeled using the marketing label published pursuant to subsection (b); or

     (2)  By any other means, represents the origin of the item as a service of or being produced by a native Hawaiian,

if it has not been manufactured, assembled, fabricated, or produced by, or is not a service of, a Native Hawaiian business participating in the Native Hawaiian marketing program pursuant to this section.

     (f)  The office shall develop rules pursuant to chapter 91 to administer the Native Hawaiian marketing program."

     SECTION 2.  The office of Hawaiian affairs shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the regular sessions of 2026 and 2027 on the status of the Native Hawaiian marketing program established pursuant to this Act.  The report shall include:

     (1)  The final design of the marketing label used to promote Native Hawaiian businesses as part of the program and what qualifications are required to participate in the program and use the label;

     (2)  Outcomes of how the marketing label is being used and how many businesses are using the marketing label;

     (3)  Any other relevant data; and

     (4)  Any proposed legislation.

     SECTION 3.  There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $350,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2025-2026 and the same sum or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2026-2027 for the Native Hawaiian marketing program established pursuant to this Act.

     The sums appropriated shall be expended by the office of Hawaiian affairs for the purposes of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2025.

Report Title:

Office of Hawaiian Affairs; Native Hawaiian Marketing Program; Indigenous Businesses; Appropriation

Description:

Requires the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to administer and oversee a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program to promote businesses owned by Native Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  64

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.B. No. 603

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 603 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS MARKETING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to:

     (1)  Require the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to administer and oversee a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program to promote businesses owned by native Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance;

     (2)  Require the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to submit reports on the status of the Native Hawaiian Marketing Program; and

     (3)  Appropriate funds for the Native Hawaiian Marketing Program.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Cupcakes, BOOM!; BOOM! Wahine; Welo Creations; and two individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

     Your Committee finds that Hawaiian-owned businesses are indispensable to the State's communities as those businesses create jobs, grow the local economy, advance Hawaiian entrepreneurship, and advance cultural preservation.  Your Committee further finds that the Office of Hawaiian Affairs has concerns regarding enforcement of the proposed initiative and proposes that the appropriation be reallocated for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to establish a working group.

     Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Deleting language that would have established the Native Hawaiian Marketing Program;

     (2)  Changing the appropriation to an unspecified amount;

     (3)  Reallocating the appropriation for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs to convene a working group to engage with relevant stakeholders about program design, implementation, and long-term viability of a Native Hawaiian Marketing Program to promote and support the success of businesses owned by Hawaiians through marketing and technical assistance;

     (4)  Amending the information required for the reports by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs;

     (5)  Changing the effective date to July 1, 3000, to encourage further discussion; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     Your Committee respectfully requests your Committee on Finance, should it deliberate on this measure, to consider an appropriation amount of $350,000.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 603, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 603, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs,